General Court Information

Confidential/ Sealed Documents and Cases

Confidential documents/cases are confidential by statute

Sealed documents/cases are made confidential by court order

Court records are open public records unless deemed confidential by statute or by court order. Confidential records are only accessible to parties of the action or counsel of record. Court records that are sealed by the court require an order of the court to unseal.

MCCAC Meeting ScheduleMeets every other month (February, April, June, no meeting in August, October, December)1st Friday of the month, at 8:30 a.m.

Directions to Courthouse (from I-43)Take Exit 149, follow signs for 151 North until you reach the intersection of South 8th and Washington Streets. Courthouse is on the right, at 1010 South 8th Street.151 North will become Calumet Avenue, and then after the "S" intersection at S. 26th Street, it changes to Washington Street, but just follow the signs for 151 North.

To Request Making Your Court Appearance By PhoneIn certain circumstances, the court may allow you to make your court appearance by phone. You can make this request by contacting the judicial assistant for the judge or court commissioner scheduled to preside over your hearing. If your request is granted, you will be provided with the phone number to call in for your scheduled hearing. See Court Official Directory for phone contact information.

Ex Parte Communication“Ex parte” is a Latin phrase meaning “on one side only; by or for one party.” An ex parte communication occurs when a party to a case or a person affiliated with a party to a case communicates with a judge without the knowledge of other parties to the case. For example, a letter addressed to just the judge is considered an ex parte communication because no other party to the action has access to it. Also, a phone call directly to the judge would not be permitted unless all parties or their attorneys were participating in the phone call. To ensure fairness to all parties, a judge shall not initiate, permit or consider ex parte communications made to the judge outside the presence of the parties or their attorneys.

To avoid ex parte communication, complete copies of all correspondence and pleadings addressed to the judge should be provided to all parties of the action, and copy distribution should be clearly documented at the bottom of the correspondence.

Media Coordinator ListThe media coordinator system was established by Chapter 61 of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules. Media coordinators are generally working members of the media who volunteer to help facilitate media access to the state's circuit courts, Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

News Reporters Legal HandbookPublished by the State Bar of Wisconsin's Media Law Subcommittee of the Public Education Committee in cooperation with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association (6th Edition, August 2013)

To Reserve a Room for Depositions To reserve a room in the courthouse for a deposition, contact the County Clerk's office at (920) 683-4003 to check for availability and to make scheduling arrangements.

To Schedule Tours of Elected Offices and Jail (for community civic groups or local schools)To arrange for a tour of the elected offices of the courthouse (including County Clerk's office, Register of Deeds office and County Treasurer's office) and possible court observation or a presentation by one of our circuit court judges, call the County Clerk's office at (920)683-4003 to make scheduling arrangements. This typically takes approximately one hour. If you want to include a tour of the Manitowoc County Jail, which also takes about one hour, contact Holly Herzog at (920) 683-4194, and then coordinate the scheduling with the County Clerk.

ADA Accommodation Request(GF-153) used to assist the court in determining what accommodation might be necessary for a party, witness, juror, attorney, or other individual to participate in court proceedings.

Address ChangeComplete form legibly, including case number(s). Address will be changed only on cases indicated. Clerk of Court requires all address changes to be given in writing. Submit completed form to Clerk of Court in person, by mail or by fax.

Interpreter Certification ProgramThe Clerk of Court office contracts with qualified court interpreters to provide interpretation services required in various court proceedings. Interpreters may be utilized for both language and hearing impaired interpretation services.

ADA AccommodationFrequently Asked Questions About the ADA and Courts - Wisconsin Court System

Language Access PlanThis document serves as a plan for Manitowoc County to provide meaningful access to all Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons who use the court’s services. The purpose of this policy is to establish effective guidelines consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 13166 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Open Records Request (Manitowoc County form) for requesting copies from a Manitowoc County court file; complete form as instructed and make applicable required payment

Public Records Notice- Manitowoc County Clerk of Circuit Court The office of Clerk of Circuit Court maintains court records and exhibits for civil, paternity, family, juvenile, criminal, traffic, ordinance violations, and small claims cases; lien records and lien docket of all money judgments of the court; oaths of office for court commissioners, municipal judges, sheriff’s deputies, and deputy clerks; as well as jury management records, interpreter records, law library information, financial, accounting and budget records, statistical records, and various management records.

Court reporters are now required to upload their transcripts electronically, provided it is a case type enabled for efiling. The court reporter has authority to designate parties who have paid for a copy of the transcript to be allowed to view the transcript through the efiling portal. The public can still view transcripts at the Clerk of Court Office on the public access computers.

ADRC of the Lakeshore(Manitowoc County) Phone: (920) 683-4180 (provides information, assistance and access to community resources for the aging population, people with disabilities, their families and caregivers in Manitowoc County. If you suspect that you or someone you know is the victim of emotional, physical, sexual abuse, neglect, and/or financial exploitation, please call the ADRC office at 1-877-416-7083 for confidential reporting andresource information.

Aging Resource Center(Manitowoc County) Phone: (920) 683-41801701 Michigan Ave, Manitowoc, WI 542204th Wednesday of each month; 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., by appointment only Legal consultation services provided by local volunteer attorneys who rotate on a monthly basis Services available to seniors age 60 and older

Lawyer Referral and Information Service(State Bar of Wisconsin) Phone: 1-800-362-9082An LRIS assistant will help you determine if you need a lawyer to proceed and will refer you to an attorney in your area who has indicated an interest in your type of legal situation. Attorneys referred through LRIS agree to charge no more than $20 for the first consultation, up to one-half hour. Some cases may resolve your legal issue at the first meeting. If your problem requires work beyond the first half-hour, you will be charged at the lawyer's regular fee rate.

Modest Means Panel (State Bar of Wisconsin)Assists people whose income is too high to qualify for free legal services, but too low to pay a lawyer's standard rate. Program is run by the Lawyer Referral Service at the State Bar. You need to complete an application and will be matched with an attorney who has agreed to consider certain cases at a reduced rate.

Wisconsin Free Legal AnswersNeed legal advice? No money for a lawyer? Wisconsin Free Legal Answers is a free website for low income people who cannot afford a lawyer. You can get free brief legal advice from volunteer lawyers when you have non-criminal legal questions. Click on "Get Started"; ask your question; receive an email notification when a lawyer responds to your question on the website.

Manitowoc County CASA Program Phone: (920) 686-8708(trained community CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to provide court based advocacy for children who are under court jurisdiction due to abuse or neglect)

Two Rivers Senior Center Phone: (920) 793-55961520 17th Street, Two Rivers, WI 542411st Friday of each month; mornings, starting at 9:30 a.m., by appointment only Legal consultation services provided by Attorney Thomas Van Horn (to assist seniors with civil, small claims, contract, Power of Attorney or estate planning questions) Services available to members of Senior Center age 50 and older